a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

As you may know, the original "Cop and a Half" movie that came out in 1993 was an instant joke that deservedly got trashed by critics, and today is still considered a low point in the history of Hollywood cinema. But it must have eventually made a lot of money on video and cable TV broadcasts, because twenty four years later comes this direct to DVD sequel. And the only good thing that this sequel manages to do is illustrate that the original movie could have been a lot worse. This movie manages to be bad in every way you can think of. The scripting is alternately predictable and ludicrous (particularly with what happens in the climax), the special effects are cheesy, and poor Lou Diamond Phillips looks very tired, haggard, and clearly knows he's in a turkey. However, the worst thing about the movie happens to be the character child actress Lulu Wilson plays. The character is possibly the most obnoxious child character I have ever seen in movie. Certainly the dialogue and situations Wilson has to play out play a part of this, but a bigger reason is Wilson's performance, which is unbelievably broad and grating, not allowing for even a little sympathy for her and her character. I know this movie is strictly aimed at a kiddie audience, but I think even kids will realize the utter contempt this movie will throw at them.

I was disappointed to see that there was a secret relationship with a grown man in a position of authority and a 12 year old girl, a relationship that continued through texting and sharing photos after the "case" was over. Children and adults are not friends and a 12 year old girl has no business secretly meeting up with a 50 year old man.The story line of a 12 year old girl who dreams of being a cop but is vulnerable and unsupervised by her single parent mom is not a unique one, however considering the threats to online dangers for youth I am surprised by the themes portrayed.

In the bonus track of the DVD for "Cop and a Half: New Recruit," the filmmakers described the project as a throwback to the 1980s "buddy cop" films now updated and revised with the latest technology for family entertainment. The energetic cast, including Wallace Shawn as the stodgy Principal Miller, helps to maintain the fast-moving pace of this light-hearted piece of fluff.The film was successful in creating the team of a beleaguered, "scruffy" detective (Lou Diamond Phillips) and a kid from the local Darville Middle School, who is an aspiring undercover cop. The little kid playing the role is great, and Phillips is perfect as the jaded detective in need of the kid's wherewithal and expertise in the new technology.There is an inventive theme to the kid's approach to detective work: "Don't panic. Just work the problem." The Americana that is depicted in the film is that of a Normal Rockwell painting. Except, in this case, there is a disgruntled law enforcement official calling himself the Badge Bandit, who beleaguers the town with pranks unleashed through drones to culminate with an embarrassing display set to occur during the Harvest Valley Festival.There is never any true danger, and there is great fun throughout the adventure. The one-liners and the gags are good. The kid knows all the cop lingo ("perp," "copy that," and "10-4, Cap"), and she also coins the word "ridonkulous" that seems like a perfect description of this inconsequential film experience as a whole.

I found this movie in Redbox and although it's not going to win any awards, I thought it was light fun and a movie that the whole family could enjoy. Lou Diamond Phillips and Lulu Wilson are excellent in the lead roles here. Phillips portrays the veteran Detective Simmons, who doesn't have much use for the latest technologies. He'll get some help from the tech savvy 12-year-old Karina Foley whose late father was a policeman and it's a job she wants to eventually hold. By circumstance, they'll work together on a case where someone is pulling pranks at one municipal venue after another, threatening the town's popular annual festival. The quirky characters in the supporting cast add well to mix here also.All in all, this comedy is a diversion from heavy dramas or action flicks, and surprisingly I found myself laughing quite a lot and enjoying the movie.